Cairo: Police disperse pro-reform protesters

Published April 6th, 2010 - 15:10 GMT

Egyptian police on Tuesday beat and dragged off protesters to disperse a gathering of a few dozen in downtown Cairo calling for constitutional reforms

Egyptian police on Tuesday beat and dragged off protesters to disperse a gathering of a few dozen in downtown Cairo calling for constitutional reforms and fairer presidential elections. According to the AP, several dozen protesters managed to briefly assemble in front of the upper house of parliament chanting "freedom" and calling for changes in the constitution before police and anti-riot squads attacked them.

Police officers dragged demonstrators out of the crowd and threw them into waiting trucks.

"It is an insulting image for Egypt," opposition politician Ayman Nour said about the heavy security presence ahead of the rally. "Hundreds of soldiers are denying the right of a few dozen citizens trying to express their desire to amend the constitution."